International Business Machines Corporation

Sivarama K Kodukula

Binh K Hua

Ron Encarnacion Gonzalez

James R Gallagher

Hong Lam Hua

Herman Dietrich Dierks

Rakesh Sharma

Rafael Graniello Cabezas

James P Kuruts

David D Galvin

Bruce H Ratcliff

Omar Cardona

James Brian Cunningham

Adrian Stephen Butter

Nicholas E Bofferding

Raymond E Losinger

Alan Robert Clark

Joseph P Buonomo

James W Valashinas

Chang Y Kao

Steven R Houghtalen

Robert William Callahan

Hon Lam Hua

Harry L Tredennick

Brion N Shimamoto

Chang-Yung Kao

Brian S Finkel

The present disclosure is directed to a method for delivering a plurality of packets from a network switch to a receiving node. The method may comprise collecting a plurality of packets received at the network switch during a time window; arranging the plurality of packets based on a source address, a package number, and a destination address for each one of the plurality of packets collected during the time window; and delivering the arranged plurality of packets to the receiving node.

Large send support in layer 2 switch to enhance effectiveness of large receive on NIC and overall network throughput

A primary I/O adapter and a redundant I/O adapter of a data processing system are assigned to support access to a system resource. While the primary I/O adapter is in service and the redundant I/O adapter is not in service in providing access to the system resource, a fail over command is issued to remove the primary I/O adapter from service and place the redundant I/O adapter in service in supporting access to the system resource. While the redundant I/O adapter is in service and the primary I/O adapter is not in service in providing access to the system resource, diagnostic testing on the primary I/O adapter is performed. In response to the diagnostic testing revealing no fault in the primary I/O adapter, a fail back command is issued to restore the primary I/O adapter to service and to remove the redundant I/O adapter from service.

Non-disruptive I/O adapter diagnostic testing

Transferring data in a data processing system network is provided. Transferring data in a data processing system network according to the invention includes determining an adapter among a plurality of adapters that has the lowest transmit latency, and assigning data to be transferred to the adapter determined to have the lowest transmit latency. The data to be transferred is then transferred by the assigned adapter.

Optimization of network adapter utilization in EtherChannel environment

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring data from a memory to a network adapter in a data processing system. The frame size for a transfer of the data from the memory to the network adapter is identified. If the frame size is divisible by a cache line size without a remainder, a valid data length is set equal to the length field. However, if the frame size divided by the cache line size results in a remainder, the length field is set to align the data with the cache line size. The data transfer is then initiated using these fields.

Method and apparatus for transferring data from a memory subsystem to a network adapter by extending data lengths to improve the memory subsystem and PCI bus efficiency

A method in a data processing system for managing transmission of pause frames. In response to detecting an overflow condition during a receipt of data from a network, enabling flow control in response to detecting the overflow condition. The flow control is enabled as long as the overflow condition is present. A determination is made as to whether the operating system unavailable after a period of time passes. If the operating system believed to have crashed and flow control is enabled, the flow control is disabled.

Method and apparatus for managing flow control in a data processing system

A method for Ethernet packet load balancing includes receiving a transmit packet for transmission on an Ethernet network. An offload adapter identifies a least busy port from a plurality of ports indicated in a port list, based on a byte count associated with each of the plurality of ports. The offload adapter determines whether the identified least busy port is in a working status. In the event an identified least busy port is in a working status, the offload adapter assigns the transmit packet to the identified least busy port and increments the byte count associated with the identified least busy port. In the event an identified least busy port is not in a working status, the offload adapter updates the port list and, based on a determination that there are additional working ports, assigns the transmit packet to one of the additional working ports.

System and method for improved Ethernet load balancing

Methods and arrangements to monitor communication components such as a network adapters for activity, and identify components that have lower than normal levels of activity are provided. An identified communication component can become suspect component and a candidate for further testing, including different forms of interrogation. Process for interrogating candidates can include generating and sending test packets having the media access control (MAC) address of the candidate to the candidate and if activity is not detected subsequent to the interrogation, the candidate can be flagged as a failed component. Correspondingly, the component can be deactivated and removed from service. In a further embodiment, a backup component can be activated and assume the role previously held by the failed component.

Methods and arrangements to detect a failure in a communication network

A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for avoiding data loss during network port recovery. A first network port is linked to a second network port via a network. The second network port transmits data to the first network port via the network. A determination is made that the first network port needs to be reinitialized. Prior to the first network port executing a re-initialization process, the first network port notifies the second network port to pause its data transmissions to the first network port.

System and computer-readable medium for avoiding data loss during network port recovery processes

A method, system, and computer program product in a data processing system are disclosed for dynamically selecting software buffers for aggregation in order to optimize system performance. Data to be transferred to a device is received. The data is stored in a chain of software buffers. Current characteristics of the system are determined. Software buffers to be combined are then dynamically selected. This selection is made according to the characteristics of the system in order to maximize performance of the system.

Method, system, and computer program product for dynamically selecting software buffers for aggregation according to current system characteristics

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for monitoring health of a data processing system. A determination is made whether a response is received within a first time period in response to an I/O device sending a receive descriptor to the data processing system. A determination is made whether a second time period passes before the receive descriptor becomes available for sending to the data processing system in response to an unavailability of the receive descriptor for sending by the I/O device to the data processing system. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the first time period passes without receiving a response. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the second time period passes without a receive descriptor becoming available to send the data processing system.

Evaluating data processing system health using an I/O device

A method of reducing Ethernet power consumption in a network having an operating system by reducing an Ethernet link speed to a minimum rate required for current data link traffic, and automatically commanding an Ethernet adapter/cable to decrease or increase a link rate by dynamically auto-negotiating an Ethernet port by IEEE standards to a lower or higher link rate without user intervention.

Energy efficient ethernet via dynamic adapter driver link speed negotiation

A method, system, and computer program product in a data processing system are disclosed for dynamically selecting software butters for aggregation in order to optimize system performance. Data to be transferred to a device is received. The data is stored in a chain of software buffers. Current characteristics of the system are determined. Software buffers to be combined are then dynamically selected. This selection is made according to the characteristics of the system in order to maximize performance of the system.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Sivarama K Kodukula